The EU ban, together with similar seal product trade prohibitions in Russia and Taiwan, has saved more than one million baby seals from the Canadian commercial seal slaughter in the past four years alone. We cannot allow Canada and Norway to succeed in their efforts to convince the WTO to overturn this crucial ban. No trade organization should ever be permitted to view animal welfare and public morals as trade barriers.

Next steps

The HSUS faces formidable obstacles in 2013. We must help defend the bans on seal product trade that are already in place, even as we block Canada’s attempts to develop new markets. In Canada, we have to build alliances with the commercial sealing industry to convince the government to end the seal hunt and implement a fair sealing industry buyout. These are tremendous challenges, but your support is helping us to win this campaign.

Your generosity kept our helicopter in the air and our cameras rolling during the 2013 seal slaughter, allowing us to expose to the world what the Canadian government doesn't want people to see. Those images will be broadcast at the WTO hearing, disproving entirely Canada’s claims of a humane kill.

Your boycott pledges are showing the Canadian government that global opposition to commercial sealing is increasing, and that a sealing industry buyout is the right way forward.

Most importantly, you are a part of the Protect Seals team, and your ongoing support is helping us to wage this campaign on multiple fronts around the world.